ASML doubled the number of expats flying from Eindhoven Airport to visit loved ones
The number of expats using Eindhoven Airport to return to their home countries for a visit has doubled in the past five years, the airport told BNR. Despite this increase, there are no plans to hike the flight movements at the airport. But there are plans to use bigger planes. ASML also plans to build a lot next to the airport.
Around 2020, some 90 percent of the mostly Dutch people who traveled through Eindhoven Airport did so to go on holiday. Now that is only half of the travelers. Five years ago, one in six of the Eindhoven Airport’s travelers were expats from the Brainport region. Now that’s one in three.
About 32 percent of the airport’s travelers are international workers from Noord-Brabant going to visit their loved ones, Roel Hellemons, CEO of Eindhoven Airport, told the broadcaster. “63 percent come from European countries to which Eindhoven Airport is connected by direct flight connections.”
Hellemons expects the number of expats and demand for flights to grow even further, especially with the expansions ASML is planning. Despite this, there are no plans to grow the airport for the time being. To compensate, airlines are using larger planes on popular routes.
In a few years, the maximum flight movement limits set on airports will be replaced with a maximum noise level. In theory, this could mean more flights if planes become quieter. “If more flights fit within that, then we could grow again,” Hellemons said.
He stressed that the airport can handle the demand, and this will not be an issue in the coming years.
